Testimony has begun in a war crimes case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and another accused over alleged crimes against humanity committed in July–August last year.
On Monday at 11:20 am, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh, appeared before the three-member panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumder, to give his statement.
According to the prosecution, Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), is also scheduled to testify in the same case on Tuesday.
The tribunal has so far recorded the testimony of 45 witnesses, including six on 9 September and three on 8 September. On 2 September, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, now a prosecution witness, testified as the 36th witness, apologizing to the tribunal and claiming mass killings had been carried out under the orders of Sheikh Hasina and Kamal.
Witness statements over the past sessions have described alleged atrocities during the July–August protests across Bangladesh, including mass killings. Families of victims and eyewitnesses have demanded exemplary punishment for those they hold responsible, including Hasina and Kamal.
The tribunal formally framed charges on 10 July, indicting the three accused on five counts of crimes against humanity. The case file runs to 8,747 pages, including 2,018 pages of references, 4,005 pages of seized materials and documentary evidence, and a 2,724-page list of victims. Eighty-one witnesses have been listed in total.
The investigation agency submitted its report to the Chief Prosecutor on 12 May.
